CEC rejects Prakash Singh Badal's charges against poll officials

Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi today rejected charges of interference levelled by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal against some officials of the poll panel through media and asserted that the Commission was aware of its constitutional mandate.

Quraishi said the allegations of interference against the poll officials were without any basis.

Badal had charged election officials with creating confusion about administrative control in the poll-bound state and asked them to act within parameters of the Constitution in ensuring adherence to the model code of conduct.

"We have seen with deep dismay media reports quoting a statement emanating from you that questions actions of the Commission’s officials during the election period," Quraishi said in a letter to Badal who sought his intervention so that the election officials act with constitutional restraint.

"I am particularly disappointed that you have chosen to communicate with me and the Commission through the media rather than directly for which several channels are always available.

"Let me assure you that the Commission operates within diligent awareness of its constitutional mandate and recognizes with the greatest respect the operational boundaries between various Constitutional bodies," Quraishi said and asked the Chief Minister of the poll bound state to bring specific cases to the election body's notice, if there had been any deviations in its work.

Noting that both the Commission and he value Badal's standing as a political leader and statesman, the CEC said, "the Commission is concerned that you have made general allegations of interference against its officials and questioned their conduct without any basis."

"This could dent their morale and bring them under undue pressure with respect to ensuring free and fair polls, which you will appreciate, is the bedrock of governance, development and betterment of people, all of which you are very rightly concerned about," Quraishi said.

Quraishi said the maintenance of law and order during election time is a basic pre-condition for free and fair polls and as such Commission can only have a vested interest in ensuring the same rather than ignoring it.

"I need to assure you that the same is being done in right earnest. Even the Supreme Court has observed that the Commission's perceptions about law and order during elections should be respected," he said.

Similarly, on the enforcement of measures against black money in elections, the Commission's action is backed by a national consensus and also by the concerns expressed by all political parties, the CEC said.

He said Commission has due regard for citizens’ convenience and that is why it keeps its own instructions under dynamic review.

"Upward revising of cash carrying limit from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh was one such instance. It would be unwise to see this as a weakness, as this indeed is the action of a responsive Commission," Quraishi said and asked Badal to reconsider his stated position on the working of the poll panel officials.

"You would agree that we must not do anything at this juncture that can undermine election management, the ongoing election process and overall electoral democracy in the state of Punjab as well as the whole country," he said.

Badal had appealed to the CEC to ask its officials in Punjab "to act within the parameters of their constitutional brief" while treating the observance of the model code of election conduct as their primary task.

"No one should over-step their constitutional mandate," the Chief Minister had said.

Badal's reaction came in the wake of numerous directions from the EC on administrative matters, including transfers of civil and police officers, disbursement of grants in ongoing scheme and deferring the decision of the state on abolition of Octroi (local tax) on petroleum products sold in urban areas.